Olive press



March 14, 1944. c. Lrvorl 2,343,871

OLIVE PRES S Y Filed Feb. 24. 1943 5/ INVENTOR.

CHARLES L/vorl AArron/ws Ys.

Patented Mar. 14, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OLIVE PRESS Charles Livoti, Roseville, Calif.

Application February 24, 1943, Serial No. 476,917

(Cl. G-50) 10 Claims.

This invention relates generally to a fruit press, and more specifically to an olive press for expressing the oil from olives.

Olives for pressing are preferably picked when about ripe, and are ground up, sometimes without removal of the stones, and sometimes the stones are removed, but in the former case, the stones are not broken in lthe crushing. The pulp or pomace has heretofore been placed in fab-ric bags or enveloped in fabric, in which latter case a layer of pomace is placed in -a tray-supported sheet of said fabric and the margins of the sheet folded over to cover the pOmace. The bags 0r stacks of trays on which the fabric enclosed pomace is supported are positioned between the bed and head of a conventional hydraulic press and the oil is expressed from the pomace, flowing into a flow trough at the bottom of the press.

The labor and material costs involved in the expressing of olive oil by the above methods are quite high and the oil collected in the flow troughs contains an objectionably large amount of impurities.

The principal object of this invention is the provision of a press that will greatly accelerate the time required for expressing the oil from olives and that will accomplish this result at a substantial saving in labor and material costs, and which oil, when expressed by the press, will be relatively clean as compared with the oil expressed by the conventional means heretofore employed.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the description and drawing.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the press as seen from the unloading side, parts thereof being broken away and certain parts being in section where broken away.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

In general, the press illustrated in the drawing comprises -a pair of vertically disposed, axially aligned upper and lower cylinders I, 2 rigidly secured together a-t their lower and upper ends respectively, and a vertically reciprocable hydraulically actuated cylindrical ram 3 in the lower cylinder movable vertically into the upper cylinder and then retractable into the lower cylinder. A combination packing box and bearing .4 (Figs. 1 and 4) at the juncture between the upper and lower cylinder cooperates with the ram to seal the upper cylinder from the lower at said juncture and slidably supports and guides the ram during its reciprocable movement, while a head 5 closes the upper end of the upper cylinder and a bottom 6 closes the lower end of the lower cylinder.V

The diameter of the upper cylinder I is greater than the diameter of the lower cylinder 2, while the diameter of the ram is less than the diameter of the lower cylinder. The main walls of the upper cylinder dene a pomace chamber 'I for receiving and holding pomace to be placed therein through the upper open end of the upper cylinder when .the head 5 is removed, while the space between the walls of the lower cylinder and ram below the packing box 4 comprise a fluid chamber 8 for uid to actuate the ram.

Encircling the upper and lower cylinders at their adjacent ends is an upwardly opening, annular oil receiving trough 9 that is inclined slightly relative to horizontal, and which trough communicates with a drain trough Ill at its depressed or lowered side for conducting oil from the trough to any desired point.

Each of the above generally designated elements will now be taken up more in detail, it being understood that the detailed descriptions are not to be considered restrictive, but illustrative of preferred structure.

The upper cylinder The walls of the upper cylinder I are of perforated sheet metal Il, capable of withstanding relatively high pressure Within the cylinder, the perforations therein being designated I 2. In Fig. 1 only a limited number of the perforations are shown in elevation to preserve the clarity of the drawing, it being understood that the perforations are evenly distributed over the entire area of the Walls II.

One of the sides of the upper cylinder is formed with an opening closed by a door I3, vwhich door is adapted to swing horizontally to open position on hinges I4V at one of its vertical edges.

This door I3, like the walls II, is formed of perforated sheet metal, and is curved horizontally to conform with the curvature ofthe walls II. The inner surfaces ofthe perforated sheet forming the door and of walls II are preferably Vilushy with each other along the edgesof' the door and-of the opening Vin walls II when the door is closed, as best seen in Figs. 1 and 3.

A plurality of pairs of spaced structural steel strips I5, such as angle strips, are secured .on

the door and extend thereacross, thus reinforcing the latter. The ends of these strips opposite hinges I4 project from the door, as at I6 (Fig. l) and pivoted clamping bolts I1 carried by the upper cylinders I are adapted to swing horizontally into and out of the spaces between the projecting ends I6 of the strips I5; These bolts carry manually actuatable screw clamps I3 threadedly secured therein for respectively engaging over the projecting ends I6 of each pair of strips' I5 when the'door is closed to securely hold the door closed against outward movement of the door under outward pressure exerted from Y within the chamberY 1.

The head 5 comprises a circular metal plate -I 9 (Fig. 2) formed with perforations similar to those in walls II of the upper cylinder.` This head is provided with a plurality of radially outwardly projecting ears rigidly secured thereto, the projecting endsy of which ears are forked as indicated at 23 to respectively receive vertically disposed bolts 20 that are pivoted at their lower ends on horizontal pivots 2l between bracket members 22 rigidly secured tothe upper end of the upper cylinder I for swinging of the bolts vertically into and out ofthe spaces between the fork ends 23 (Fig. 2) of the ears. A screw clamp 24 is threadedlyV carried by .the outer end of each bolt 2l!r for tightening against the fork ends 23 when the bolts are in clamping position (Figs. l, 2) and the clamps screwed down.

Reinforcing strips 25 of structural steel extend across the top of head 5, and an inverted U-bolt or eye 26 is secured to the head 5 centrally thereof for engagement by Va hook 21 of any suitable hoist,` which hoist ,mayA be a turnbuckle 28 depending from a carriage 29 supported by wheels 39 on an overhead track 3 I. Thus the cover may be hoistedr clear of the cylinder I and carried to one side of the latter for loading material into saidV cylinder through'itsr upper end after the head has been unclamped for removal from the cylinder I. v

Against the inner surface of the cylinder I is a sheet of wire cloth'32 (Fig. 2) and against the inner -side of the wire cloth'is a sheet of filter cloth V33. Thus the cylinder I has a removable liner of wire cloth and filter cloth with the filter cloth innermost. 1

The filter cloth is preferably longer than the cylinder I so as, to project above the upper edge of the latter and after lling'the cylinder with pomace, the upwardly Yprojecting portion of the cloth is folded over the pomace as indicated in Fig. 2. VThe size of the liner 1s such as to extend to the lower end of the openings I2 in walls II. The cover VI9 preferably hasa flange fitting around the upper end of cylinder I.

Below theV cover or head I9 is a liner comprising circular sheet of wire cloth 34 and a sheet of filter cloth 35 with the filter cloth lowermost. liner may rest at its marginal portion on the inwardly folded portion of the filter cloth 33 and on the upper edge of the wire cloth 32.

The door I3 beingperforated, also'has a liner similar to that of the cylinder, comprising a sheet of wire Ycloth 3,6 and a sheet of filter cloth 31 (Fig.' 3),. Preferably this liner for the door is larger than the door and extends outwardly past the edges I3 ,thereof and abuts the edges of the opening in the cylinder liner, the said opening being larger `than, the door opening. The edges by dotted lines 31"` ('F'Ig." 1*) Y Inwardly projecting cylinder and across the Y it is secured.

hooks 38 (Fig. 3) on the cylinder above the door opening may be used to support the door liner in position.

The lower cylinder and packing box The walls of lower cylinder 2, including bottom are imperforate and are of a strength to withstand sufficient hydraulic pressure for forcing the rarn 3 into the pomace to be loaded into the chamber 1 for expressing oil from the pomace.

A ring 39 (Fig, 4) within the lower end of walls II of the upper cylinder and projecting radially inwardly from said walls is rigidly secured to the latter, preferably by welding. This ring may carry trough 9 and drain ID, and is Iformed with a depending annular flange 4U that is formed at a point spaced slightly above its lower end with a radially inwardly projecting annular rib 4I, the lower side of which rib engages the upper edge of lower cylinder 2, and said lower cylinder and flange may be rigidly secured together by welding, as indicated in Fig. 4.

An upper bearing ring 42 and a lower bearing ring 43 conne packing 44 therebetween for forming a tight, fluid seal with the outer surface of ram 3 and the flange 4I) and the radially inwardly facing surfaces of said rings are formed to have a sliding fit with the outer surface of said ram, thus functioning as rigid bearings or guides for the ram.

Ring 43 is preferably formed with a radially outwardly projecting annular lip 45 that rests on rib 4i, while ring 42 has a radially outwardly projecting flange 45 overlying the upper side of ring 3,3 and stud bolts 41 extending through said ange 46 and threadedly into ring 39 serve for tightening the packing 44 between rings 42, 43 and against ram 3. It will be noted that rings F12, 43 concentrically position the ram 3 in cylinder 2 and space-the latter from the inner sides of said lower cylinder.

The bottom 6 of the lower cylinder has an inlet centrally thereof in which is secured one end of a iluid pressure pipe 48 that extends to any suitable pump and pressure release mechanism (not shown) for admitting and withdrawing fluid, such as water under pressure into the chamber 8 and for releasing the pressure and to permit the downward movement of ram 3 after each pressing operation.

The ram The'ram 3 is cylindrical and in coaxial alignment with the upper and lower cylinder, and has a conical head 49 at its upper end that projects into the lower end portion of cylinder I. The lower enjd of said ram'is closed by a bottom wall 5E).

When fluid under pressure is admitted into the lowerk end ofr cylinder 2' the ram is forced upwardly into cylinder I, and the packing box forms the seal between fluid chamber 8 and the pomace chamber l during said movement.

The entireV press is supported on any suitable base, such asgenerally indicated aty 5I, to which Operation When the upper cylinder I has its liner Vof wire cloth and lter cloth therein, and the door I3 clamped shut with the liner sheets 36 and 31 over the inner side thereof, the desired charge of pomace is loaded into the cylinder through its upper open end,` and the head 5 is then clamped of the, opening in the cylinder liner are indicated Vin placel closing the upper end.

Fluid under pressure-is then admitted .through conduit IIB into the lower cylinder 2 forcing the ram 3 upwardly into the upper cylinder and compressing the pomace between the ram and the wire screen and filter cloth that covers the inner surfaces of the walls I I, door I3, and the head 5, expressing the oil from the pomace through the mesh of the screen and cloth and through the openings I2 in the upper cylinder and in the door and head. The clean oil thus expressed drains by gravity into trough 9 and to drain conduit III for carrying by the latter to any desired collector or point for further handling or treatment.

The volume of pomace to be loaded into the upper cylinder is readily determined since it is compressed to about one-fourth of its original volume.

Upon withdrawing the uid from the uid chamber 8, the ram descends to its original position indicated in Fig. 1. The door I3 is then opened and the door liner of wire cloth and filter cloth is easily detached from hooks 38 and taken out through the door opening, after which the pomace from which the oil has been expressed is removed through the door opening, and the press is then made ready for a new charge.

The wire cloth and filter cloth liners 32 and 33 are easily removed from the upper cylinder and replaced with clean liners, and the removed liners may then be cleaned for re-use.

It will be seen that the oil expressed from the pomace is clean and the pressing job is accomplished with the minimum of labor, time and material, by the use of the above press.

Having described the invention, I claim:

l. A press of the character described comprising a hollow cylinder of perforated sheet metal having a liner of filter material and a removable head secured to said cylinder closing one end thereof; a cylindrical ram coaxial with said cylinder for closing the central portion of the opposite end of the latter; the outside diameter of said ram being substantially smaller than the inside diameter of said liner for leaving a substantial space between the sides of said ram and said liner when the ram is moved axially into said cylinder, and means for so moving said ram; a packing box and bearings sealing the remaining portion of said opposite end of said cylinder around said ram against leakage and slidably supporting said ram for axial movement into said cylinder.

2. A construction as defined in claim 1, said liner comprising a sheet of wire cloth removably supported against the inner sides of said cylinder and a sheet of filter cloth removably supported against the radially inwardly facing side of said wire cloth; said cylinder being vertically disposed and an upwardly opening annular trough coaxial therewith disposed below the lower edges of said cylinder for receiving liquid expressed from pomace to be held in said cylinder when said ram is moved into the latter.

3. A press of the character described comprising a hollow cylinder of perforated sheet metal having a liner of lter material and a removable head secured to said cylinder closing one end thereof; a cylindrical ram coaxial with said cylinder for closing the central portion of the opposite end of the latter and having a substantially conical head at its end adjacent the head of said cylinder; the outside diameter of said ram and of the base of its conical head being substantially smaller than the inside diameter of said liner; a packing box and bearings sealing the remaining portion of said opposite end of said cylinder around said ram against leakage and slidably supporting said ram for axial movement into said cylinder; and means for so moving said ram.

4. A press of the character described comprising a hollow cylinder of perforated sheet metal provided with a head of perforated sheet metal closing one end of said cylinder and removably secured to the latter; a liner of sheet filter material removably supported against the inner sides of said Cylinder and said head; a cylindrical ram coaxial with said cylinder for closing the central portion of the opposite end of the latter; the outside diameter of said ram being substantially smaller than the inside diameter of the liner covering the inner sides of said cylinder for leaving a substantial space between the sides of said ram and said liner when the ram is moved axially into said cylinder, and means for so moving said ram; a packing box and a bearing sealing the remaining portion of said opposite end of said cylinder around said ram against leakage and slidably supporting said ram for Said axial movement thereof into said cylinder.

5. A press of the character described comprising a hollow cylinder of perforated sheet metal having a liner of filter material and a removable head secured to said cylinder closing one end thereof; a drum-like ram having cylindrical side walls and heads at opposite ends thereof coaxial with said cylinder for closing the central portion of the opposite end of the latter; the outside diameter of the side walls of said ram being substantially smaller than the inside diameter of said liner for leaving a substantial space between the sides of said ram and said liner when the ram is moved axially into said cylinder; a housing secured to said opposite end of said cylinder around said ram and enclosing the latter; a packing box carried by said cylinder adjacent the said opposite end thereof sealing the said opposite end of said cylinder around said ram against leakage of fluid from the inside of said housing to the insidev of said cylinder upon axial movement of said ram into said cylinder; and a fluid pressure conduit communicating with the interior of said housing for admitting fluid into said housing for causing such movement of said ram.

6. A press of the character described compris- Ving a hollow cylinder 0f perforated sheet metal provided with a head closing one end thereof and removably secured to said cylinder; an opening formed in one of the sides of said cylinder and a closure conforming in contour to that of the cylinder walls closing said opening; means releasably securing said closure in a position closing said opening; a liner of sheet filter material removably supported against the inner sides of the walls of said cylinder and extending across said opening; a ring coaxial with said cylinder secured to the end thereof opposite said head and projecting radially inwardly of the walls of said cylinder at said latter end; a cylindrical ram coaxial with said cylinder slidably supported by said ring for reciprocatory movement axially thereof and closing the central aperture of said ring; means for causing said movement of said ram; the cylindrical outer sides of said ram being of substantially uniform diameter from end to end thereof and of appreeiably smaller diameter than the inside diameter of said liner, and the sides of said cylinder being of substantitally Vuniform diameter from end to end thereof whereby a substantial space of uniform width is formed between the sides of said ram and said liner when the ram is moved into said cylinder.

` i7. A press of the character described, comprising a vertically disposed hollow cylinder of per-f forated sheet metal for holding pomace from which liquid is to be expressed, and provided with a head closing the upper end thereof; a liner of sheet lter material removably supported against the inner sides of said cylinder; a ring coaxial with said cylinder secured to the lower end of said cylinder and projecting radially inwardly of the walls thereof; a cylindrical ram coaxial with said cylinder having a closed upper en-d; and the cylindrical sides of said ram slidably supported by said 'ring for axial movement of the ram upwardly into said cylinder; an annular upwardly opening trough coaxial with said cylinder and secured theerto in a position for receiving liquid passing through the perforations in the walls of said cylinder and draining from said walls upon compression of pomace in vsaid cylinder by upward movement of said ram; the said ram having an outside diameter appreciably smaller than the inside diameter of said liner to provide a space between said liner` andram for compression of such pomace in' said space when said ram is moved into said cylinder; and hydraulic means for so moving said ram.

8. A hydraulic press of the character described, comprising an upper Yand a lower cylinder vdisposed vertically in axial alignment, one above the other, and secured together at their adjacent ends; a cylindrical ram in said lower Ycylinder reciprocable into said upper cylinder; a fluid pressure conduit opening into said lower cylinder below said ram for admitting uid under pressure into said latter cylinder for moving said ram into said upper cylinder; said upper cylinder being of perforated sheet metal; a liner of filter mate-Y rial lining vsaid upper cylinder; said upper cylinder being provided with an opening therein for loading the cylinder with pomace; a closure removably secured over said opening; and a liquid collecting trough below the lower edges of said upper cylinder` encircling the `latter for receiving liquid expressed ,from pomace in said upper cylinder when said ram is moved into the latter; said ram being of smaller diameter than said uphaving a conical-.shaped upper end and reciprocable into said upper cylndem'a fluid pressure conduit opening into saidv lower cylinder below said ram fori admitting uid under pressure intok said vlatter cylinder for moving said ram into said upper cylinder; said upper cylinder be, ing of perforated sheet metal; a liner of filter material lining said'upper cylinder; said upper cylinder being provided with an opening in its upper end for loading it with pomace; a closure removably secured over said opening; said ram being of substantially uniform diameter from its conical upper end toits lower end and of lesser vdiameter `,than said upper cylinder whereby pomace in said upper cylinder will be directed by said conical upper end to between the lateral in,- ner sides of said upper cylinder and the sides of said 'ram for expressing liquid from said pomace through said liner and through the perforations in said upper cylinder when said ram is moved upwardly into said upper cylinder. v

l0. A hydraulic press of the character described, comprising an upper and a lower cylinder disposed vertically in am'al alignment, one above the other, and secured together at their adjacent ends; a cylindrical ram in said lower cylinder reciprocable into said upper cylinder; a packing box between said cylinders at their adjoining ends cooperating wit'n said' ram for providing a liquid-proof seal between said cylinders during reciprocation of said ram; said lower cylinder being of smaller diameter than the diameter of said upper cylinder, and said ram being of smaller diameter than the diameter of said lower cylinder, and the said upper cylinder, lower cylinder and ram respectively, being of substantitally uniform diameter from end to end thereof; the said upper cylinder being of perforated sheet metal and having a liner of lter material lining the same; the upper end'of said upper cylinder bei-ng provided with a loading opening for loading Y ppmace into said upper cylinder and one of the per cylinder whereby such pomace willbe pressed between the lateral sides of said ram and the Y inner sides of said upper cylinder when the ram is moved into said upper cylinder.

9. A hydraulic press of the character described,

ends; a cylindrical ram in said lowerV cylinder sides of said upper cylinder being lprovided with a discharge opening for removal of such pomace; closures removably secured over said loading lopening and 'over said discharge opening respectively; means for admitting fluid under pressure into said lower cylinder below said ram for moving said ram into said upper cylinder; and a liquid collecting trough 'below the lower edges of said upper cylinder encircling the latter for receiving liquid expressed from pomace in said upper cylinder when said ram is moved into the latter.

CHARLES LIVOTI. 

